Ironing machine



Jan. 24, 1950 H. L. NEWELL 2,495,641

IRONING MACHINE 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1946 Figl.

l v Inventor:

Heber LflN'ewel L 32 3% b WWW His Attorney Jan. 24, 1950 H. L. NEWELL 2,495,641

' IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

His Attorhey.

Heber L. Newel I, M

Patented Jan. 24, 1950 IRONING MACHINE Heber L. Nowell, Fishkiil, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1946, Serial No. 649,354

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to ironing machines of the type termed flatplate ironers which comprise a stationary buck and a shoe which is moved from a position at one side of the buck to a position over it and is then brought down into engagement with the buck to perform an ironing or pressing operation. The shoe is held in pressin engagement with the buck for the desired length of time after which it is raised from engagement with the buck and then moved back to its former position at one side of the buck.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved, electrically-operated mechanism for performing automatically the ironing or pressing operations, it being necessary only to close a switch to effect the operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide in such a machine adjustable timing means whereby the mechanism can be quickly and easily set for the desired ironing or pressing time.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism which is simple in structure and reliable in operation,

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a flat plate ironing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed side view showing certain of the parts in a position other than that shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in a third position.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates the buck and 2 indicates the shoe. The buck is shown as comprising a bed plate 3 on which is supported a base 4 by means of flexible spring members it. The base A may be suitably padded as is well understood. The purpose of the springs b is to permit the base I to yield somewhat with respect to the bed plate to compensate for differences in the thickness of material being ironed and to limit the pressure between the buck and the shoe. Shoe 2 may be heated by suitable electric heating coils (not shown). The shoe is'carried by a U-shaped arm 5, channelshaped in cross section. The one end of U-shaped arm 6 is suitably connected to shoe 2. Its other end I is provided with a pair of depending arms 8 which together form a bell crank lever. At its elbow, the bell crank lever is pivoted on the ends of a pair of links 9 by means of a pivot pin it. The end I or the U-shaped arm is pivoted ononeendofapairoflinksiibymeansofaoo 2 pin I2. Links 9 and II at their other ends are pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of links i3 by means of pivot pins H and i5. Pivot pin it is pivoted on a fixed support it which forms a part of the frame of the machine. The entire frame of the machine is not shown, this being not needed for an understandin of my invention. It may comprise any suitable frame structure adapted to rest on a floor or other support.

Pivotally connected to arm I! of the bell crank lever is a yoke i8 carried on the upper end of a connecting rod i9 pivoted to a crank 20 on a shaft 2| carried in suitable bearings (not shown) in the frame of the machine. The arms 8 and the links 9, ii and I3 form a parallelogram piv oted at one corner on the fixed support it and supported at another corner on connecting rod it. At 22 and 23 are fixed stops which serve to direct the movement of the parallelogram and at 24 is a spring which acts in a direction to bias the parallelogram in a forward direction and the shoe toward a position where it is over the buck.

Normally, the parts stand in the position shown in Fig. 1, the shoe being to the rear of the buck and crank 20 being above shaft 2| in what may be termed its up position. Links 8 are in engagement with stop 23. Rotation of shaft 2| in a clockwise direction as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 1 through an angle of approximately turns arms 8 on pivot Hi to bring the shoe to a position over the buck, as shown in Fig. 2. Spring 24 has a vertical upward component of pull such that the shoe is not lowered by this turning movement of the crank, the entire movement, due to the spring, being one to move the shoe to a position over the buck. During this movement, links H and is turn on their pivots to bring links i3 toward stop 22 and when links i3 engage stop 22,-further forward movement of the shoe is prevented. Stop 22 is positioned to arrest forward movement of the shoe when it has reached a position-in correct alignment over the buck. Continued rotation of the shaft 2i through approximately another 90' brings the shoe down into engagement with the buck as shown in Fig. 3, links 9 turning around pivot 14 and links il turning around pivot i5. During this movement, stop 22 prevents movement of the shoe except in a direction toward the buck.

The shoe is now in ironing or pressing engagement with the buck and is held there for thedesired length of time, which time varies in accordance with the material being ironed or pressed and its dampness. After the ironing or pressing operation is completed, continued rotation of shaft 2| through approximately an additional 90 lifts the shoe from the buck to bring the parts back to the Fig. 2 positions, except the crank 29 is displaced 180. When the crank reaches this position, links 9 engage stop 23 which prevents further upward movement of the shoe so that continued turning movement of the crank through a final 90 brings the parts back to the Fig. 1 positions.

While I have illustrated and described the four respective movements as each being effected by a 90 turning movement of the shaft, this is only by way of example since the stops 22 and 23, which determine the extent of the movements, may be positioned to divide the angular movements among the operations as desired.

Shaft 2| is driven through suitable gearing 25 by an electric motor 26 and in connection with the motor, I provide an automatic control whereby the operations of the machine may be initiated by closing an electric switch and whereby the period of time the shoe is held in engagement with the buck may be readily adjusted.

The control is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. It comprises a suitable snap action switch 21 biased toward open position and adapted to be closed by the operator by turning a lever 28 pivoted at 29 to the frame of the ma chine and biased by a spring 36 into engagement with a fixed stop 3|. Lever 28 may be so positioned on the machine that it may be operated by the knee of the operator to close switch 21.

Switch 21, when closed, closes a circuit on motor 26 as follows: power line 32, conductor 33, motor 26, conductor 34, switch 21, conductor 35 to power line 36.

At 31 is a suitable snap action switch having a pair of forward contacts 38 connected in circuit with motor 26 in shunt to switch 21 by conductors 39 and 46 and a pair of back contacts 4| connected in circuit with a timing motor 42. The switch blade of switch 31 is biased to a position where it spans forward contacts 38. It is held normally in a position where it spans back contacts 4| by a cam arm 43 fixed on shaft 2| so that it turns with the shaft. Fixed on shaft 2| diametrically opposite to cam arm 43 is a second cam arm 43" adapted to operate switch 31 in the same way in which it is operated by cam arm 43. Also, fixed on shaft 2| is a third cam arm 44 in line radially with cam arm 43 and adapted to close a suitable snap action switch 45 normally biased to open position. Switch 45 is connected in series with the back contacts 4| of switch 31. 7

Fixed on shaft 46 of timing motor 42 is a toothed ratchet wheel 41, the teeth of which engage the inner free end of a pawl 48, the outer end of which is pivoted on a short pin 49 carried by the free end of an arm 50. At its inner end, arm 56 is rotatably mounted on the end of shaft 46, the mounting being of a character such that arm 56 is held frictionally from movement whereby it may turn with shaft 46; or, when shaft 46 is held stationary, it may turn relatively to the shaft. Any suitable friction arrangement for arm 56 may be provided. In the present instance, it is shown as being held frictionally between one side face of the ratchet wheel 41 and a head on the end of shaft 46. When timing motor 42 rotates shaft 46 in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right hand end in Fig. 1, the teeth of ratchet wheel 41 through pawl 48 carry arm 5| along with the shaft. In this connection, it will be understood that the timing motor comprises suitable gearing so that shaft 46 rotates at the desired low speed. On the left hand end of shaft 2| is an arm 5| adapted to engage pin 49 to turn arm 59 along with shaft 2|. Arm 5| can turn arm 54-, due to the frictional engagement of arm 54 with shaft 46, at a time when timing motor 42 is stationary. During such movement, pawl 43 slides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

Adjustably mounted on the hub of the ratchet wheel 41 is an indicating dial 52 on which is fixed a normally open switch 53 adapted to be closed by arm 59. To this end, the switch has its flexible contact arms positioned in the path of movement of arm 56 so that the end of the arm in rotating will engage the contacts to bring them into engagement with each other. It will be understood, of course, that this is a diagrammatic arrangement and that any suitable form of switch adapted to be closed by rotation of arm 50 past it may be employed. Switch 53 is connected by flexible leads 54 to motor 26, so that when the switch is closed, it closes a circuit on the motor. Dial 52 is manually adjustable and is arranged to be held frictionally in any position to which it is adjusted. In the present instance, as one way to accomplish this, I have shown a leaf spring 55 which frictionally engages the edge of the disk. 0n the face of the disk are numerals which may represent seconds, for example, and at 56 is an index point with respect to which the dial may be adjusted. The dial is adjustable through an angle somewhat less than 180, for example approximately The circuit for timing motor 42 includes the back contacts 4| of switch 31 and switch 45, and may be traced as follows: power line 26, conductor 51, timing motor 42, conductor 56, back contacts 4| of switch 31, switch 45, and conductor 59 to power line 32. In this circuit is a manually operated switch 60, which, when opened, opens the timing motor circuit.

The operation is as follows: With the various parts standing in the positions shown in Fig. l the shoe is positioned back of the buck and the circuits of both the driving motor and the timing motor are open. The operator places the material to be ironed or pressed on the buck after which the switch 21 is closed. This closes a circuit on motor 26 which operates to rotate shaft 2| in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right hand end. As soon as shaft 2| is rotated a short distance, cam arm 43 permits switch 31 to operate to move its switch blade out of engagement with back contacts 4| and into engagement with forward contacts 36. This closes a circuit on motor 26 in shunt to switch 21 so that the operator may permit switch 21 to open. By this arrangement, the operator need hold switch 21 closed only long enough for the motor 26 to start. As motor 26 rotates, it moves the shoe over the buck and then down into pressing engagement with the buck as already described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3. After the motor has rotated shaft 2| through to bring the shoe into pressing engagement with the buck, cam arm'43 moves the switch blade of switch 31 away from contacts 36 to open the motor circuit and stop the motor, and brings the switch blade into engagement with back contacts 4|. At the same time, cam arm 44 on shaft 2| closes switch 45. This closes the circuit on the timing motor to start it in operation. Prior to starting the operation, the operator has moved dial 52 to set the circuit closer 53 in a position to give the desired period of ironing or pressing. In other words, the operator sets the dial for the period of time it is desired to have the shoe in engagement with the buck. In Fig. l, the dial has been set at which may indicate that the shoe is to be in engagement with the buck for ten seconds. When shaft 2| starts to rotate initially, arm 5|, which is in engagement with pin 49, carries arm 50 along with it bringing it to a position 180 from that which it occupies in Fig. 1. During this operation, the timing motor is not running. At the end of the initial 180 turning movement of shaft 2|, which brings the shoe into pressing engagement with the buck, the driving motor 28 is stopped and the timing motor 42 is started, as already explained. The timing motor through the ratchet wheel and pawl continues moving arm 50 and at the end of the time for which switch 53 is positioned, the end of the arm engages the switch to close a circuit on motor 26 through switch 53 and conductors 54. This again starts motor 26 to rotate shaft 2| to first lift the shoe away from the buck and then move it to a position to the rear of the buck, as already explained. The initial movement of shaft 2! moves cam arms 43 and 4 6 to effect closing of the driving motor circuit at switch 31 and opening of the timer circuit at switch 45. As shaft 21 rotates, arm 5| is brought into engagement with pin 49 and after it engages the pin, it moves it and the arm 50 along back to the Fig. 1 positions. The shoe is now positioned to the rear of the buck, and the parts are restored to their initial Fig. 1 position. The pressing or ironing operation may be then repeated. In connection with the adjustable timing mechanism, it will be seen that shaft 2i moves arm 50 through 180 after which the timing motor moves it until it closes switch 53. Hence, the time depends upon the distance which switch 53 is positioned from arm 50 after it has been moved initially by arm 5|. As compared to shaft 46, shaft 2| rotates at a fairly rapid rate so that after arm 50 closes switch 53 to start the motor for the second half of the ironer operation, arm 5| on shaft 2| quickly reaches it and moves it to open the motor circuit through switch 53.

By opening switch 60, the timer may be put out of service thus placing the period of time during which the shoe is in engagement with the buck directly under control of the operator. Under these circumstances, the operator closes switch 21,..to initiate the operation to bring the shoe into engagement with the buck and then after the shoe has been in engagement with the buck for the desired length of time closes switch 21 a second time to initiate the movement of the shoe away from the buck.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a fiatplate ironer, a buck, a shoe, an arm on which the shoe is supported for movement relative to the buck, a bell crank having an arm member to which the shoe arm is affixed, aflxed support. a parallel linkage pivoted to said support below the buck for movement vertically of the plane thereof and including as a link said am of said bell crank, means for establishing a home position of said linkage to dispose the shoe arm reclined away from said buck, a rotatable shaft, a crank driven by said shaft, 9. connecting rod between said crank and the second arm of said bell crank, a motor for driving said shaft in a direction enforcing rotation of said bell crank and therewith associated linkage to propel said shoe arm toward said buck with the shoe disposed thereabove, stop means slidably engaging with said linkage after movement thereof corresponding to substantially one quarter rotation of said crank to enforce a linearly downward movement of said linkage to bring the shoe into engagement with said buck during the second quarter revolution, said linkage and shoe arm returning to initial position in reverse order of movement during the succeeding half revolution; a normally open, manually operable, switch for starting the motor, a second switch in said motor circuit, the respective switches being in parallel and the second switch being biased to closed circuit position, an actuator for said second switch, cam means rotated by said shaft and engaging with said switch actuator at the initiation of rotation thereof to establish the switch in open circuit position, said cam means releasing said actuator for closure of its associated switch following commencement of motor operation to permit said manually operated switch to be released, and a second cam means driven by said shaft and engageable with said switch actuator at the completion of the first half revolution of said crank to return said second switch to open circuit position.

2. In a flatplate ironer having a buck, a shoe, a drive shaft, a drive motor therefor, and means operated by said drive shaft during substantially the first half revolution thereof to propel the shoe from a position remote from said buck into pressing engagement therewith and during the second half rotation returning said shoe to initial position, the improvement in motor control means comprising a manually controllable start switch for said motor, a second switch in said motor circuit, said switches being in parallel relationship and the second switch being biased to closed circuit position, an actuator for said second switch, cam means rotated by said shaft and engaging with said switch actuator to establish the switch in open circuit position and releasing said actuator for closure of its switch upon commencement of shaft rotation to permit said manually controlled start switch to be opened, a second cam means driven by said shaft, said second cam being similar to the first and engageable with said switch actuator to open the same and thereby stop the motor at the completion of said first half shaft revolution, a timer motor, switch means in circuit therewith, a third cam driven by said shaft and effective at completion of said first half revolution to close said switch means for operation of said timer motor, a third switch in said drive motor circuit. said switch being biased to open circuit position, and means operated by said timer motor after a predetermined time interval to engage said third switch and temporarily to close the motor circuit controlled thereby to initiate the second half revolution of said shaft.

y 3. A fiatplate ironer motor control circuit ac- ;cording tmclaimfi, in which the third-named motor switch is mounted for displacement relative to said timer motor operated means to establist the time interval before said means enga es with said switch to close the same.

4. In a flatplate ironer having a buck, a shoe, a drive shaft, a drive motor therefor, and means operated by said drive shaft during substantially the first half revolution thereof to propel the shoe from a position remote from said buck into pressing engagement therewith and during the second half rotation returning said shoe to initial position, the improvement in motor control means to interrupt operation thereof for a predetermined period after said first one half shaft revolution, comprising a motor switch biased to closed circuit position, an actuator for said switch, cam means driven by said shaft and engageable with said switch actuator to open said motor circuit substantially upon completion of said first one half shaft revolution and to reclose said switch at the commencement of the second half revolution, a timer motor having a shaft, a switch for said timer motor, cam means operated by said drive shaft at the completion of said one half revolution to close said timer motor switch, a second drive motor switch, said switch being biased to open circuit position, a switch actuator frictionally carried by said timer motor shaft and engageable with said switch to close the same, means on said drive shaft engageable with said switch actuator to rotate the same relative to said timer motor shaft during rotation of said drive shaft, means for angularly displacing said second drive motor switch relative to said actuator to establish a desired time interval said actuator engages said switch. and drivingly connecting said timer motor to actuator to move the same into circuit relationship with said second motor svrl restart the motor and drive shaft, said timer motor cam means opening said timer motor circuit upon rotation of said shaft and said dri shaft means engaging with said second drive motor switch actuator during said drive shaft rotation to urge the same out of switch closing engagement with said second drive motor switch.

HEBER L. NEWHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATE PATENTS 

